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Hurricane Preparedness

Hurricane Season Starts June 1, 2024 and Ends November 30, 2024.

Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County

850-983-5200
PIO.CHD57@flhealth.gov
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 929
Milton, FL 32572-0929

Physical Address:

Milton Location
5527 Stewart St.
Milton, FL, 32570
850-983-5200

Monday–Friday
8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Each year, an average of eleven tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Being prepared for a hurricane includes taking action before a hurricane strikes to lessen the damage and personal danger these storms can cause. You can take precautions long before a storm arrives to minimize the damage a hurricane can do to your possessions and improve your chances of coming through the storm safely.

The Health Department's Role

The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County (DOH-Santa Rosa) works closely with Santa Rosa County Emergency Management to coordinate the response to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, flooding, and large communicable disease outbreaks, etc. Joint community efforts are necessary to ensure the safety of food and water supplies during the disaster and recovery phase as well as availability of public information as it pertains to the community's health after a disaster.

Emergency Kits

Hurricane hazards come in many forms: storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, and flooding. This means it is important for your family to have a plan that includes the "All Hazards Approach." To help you and your family prepare for a natural disaster like a hurricane, this FEMA: How to Prepare for a Hurricane guide recommends having an emergency kit that will sustain an individual for a week or more. Visit their website and click on Resources to find information on how to prepare your family’s emergency kit, including ways to ensure you will have enough prescription medications for a week or more.

NWFLAAA - 2021 Disaster Resource Guide for Older Adults

Understanding Hurricane Season

Know Your Zone, Know Your Home – It’s important for residents to know if their home is in an evacuation zone, a low-lying, flood-prone area, a mobile home or an unsafe structure during hurricane season. Residents should also take the time to know their home and its ability to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. This information will help residents better understand orders from local officials during a storm. For more information and to determine evacuation zones, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Know.

Have Multiple Ways to Receive Weather Alerts – Residents should have multiple ways to receive weather alerts and follow all orders from local county emergency management officials. Every household is encouraged to have a battery-operated or hand-crank weather radio to ensure they can continue to receive alerts from the National Weather Service in the event of power outages or damaged cell towers. Sign up for alerts at FloridaDisaster.org/AlertFlorida.

Turn Around, Don’t Drown! – Flooding can occur with little to no warning and individuals should never drive or walk in flooded areas. Remember, it only takes one foot of floodwater to move most vehicles, and more than half of all flood-related deaths result from swept away vehicles. If flooding occurs, get to higher ground immediately!

Build a Disaster Supply Kit – Following the impact of a hurricane, residents may lose access to basic services, such as power and water, and be subject to limited or no access to essentials like food, drinking water and medicine. Households are encouraged to have enough essential supplies to last every member of the family, including pets, at least seven days. For a disaster supply kit checklist, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Kit.

Keep Gas Tanks Half Full – Residents and visitors should keep their gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid gas shortages prior to a storm. For Floridians with electric vehicles, it’s recommended that the battery be maintained between 50% - 80% capacity at all times, depending on the type of vehicle and what the vehicle’s manual recommends. Visit FloridaDisaster.org/HalfwayFull for more information.

Hurricane Hazards – Hurricanes bring with them an increased threat of tornadoes, damaging winds, flooding, rip currents and severe thunderstorms, both before, during and post-landfall. These risks have the potential to affect the entire state of Florida. That is why it’s important to make a plan for each member of the family, including pets. For more information, visit FloridaDisaster.org/PlanPrepare.

Visit FloridaDisaster.org/Guide to download the 2024 Florida Hurricane Guide.